Digital Privacy And Security

Cities like Stockholm, Amsterdam, Santa Cruz, and Barcelona have developed technologies to address practical everyday problems. The data collected and segregated from citizens and cities is used to improve infrastructure, transportation, and law enforcement. These governments rely so much on these data collection and analytics that it raises the concern of data privacy.

The omnipresent and constant data transmission from sources that are disparate into a government entity raises concerns of these situations turning into an electronic panopticon. Data exploitation to maximize the working efficiency and surveillance to aid national security, or may be used for more nefarious purposes. In this system, the government has a good chance of invading citizens’ private space. This also undermines the anonymity of their citizens. To address this issue, it is necessary to come to a middle ground on the data privacy issue. 

A study on this by Deakin and Campbell have revealed that three types of interaction between the smart cities and citizen would be a potential solution to this problem:

1. Accessibility, reliability, and seamless flow of information and responsive government during transactions
2. Transparency of consultation of information based on democratic means and accountability from government
3. A promise of anonymity and aligning to ethics and values

To avoid fallout of government functionality, the government should take serious steps towards digital privacy and data security of citizens. Interaction methods between citizens and the government, as well as an agreement to transparency and cooperation is critical to maintaining security and efficiency in government management of citizens.